Crossing the border with Blue Jays beat reporter Jordan Bastian.

Game #41: Jays at Phils pregame

This is my first time at Citizens Bank Park, or in Philadelphia for that matter, and so far, so good. Tomorrow I may take a look at the Liberty bell or perhaps run the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art like Rocky. For now, though, I’ll just get today’s pregame blog (Interleague Play edition) out of the way:

NOTES: RHP Roy Halladay, who underwent an emergency appendectomy on May 11, has started to play catch. He threw on Thursday and Friday. … DH Frank Thomas was out of the lineup for the first time this season due to the National League format in Philly. Thomas is "our pinch-hitting specialist," as Toronto manager John Gibbons put it. … Remember C Rod Barajas? The catcher the Jays "signed" and then had back out of the deal? Well, he’s played his way out of the starter’s job for Philly, hitting just .174 in 16 games. … Overbay moved up tot he second slot because Gibbons’ preferred to have Lind hit lower in case a double switch was needed later in the game. … The Yankees signed former Jays righty Pete Walker to a Minor League deal and the 38-year-old has been working out at the club’s camp in Tampa.

Once again, McGowan flirts with adequacy for 60 pitches. Against the one guy in the lineup to whom you should be able to throw fastballs down broadway, he gives up a walk. It looked to me like Helms came off the bag in the 9th, but it shouldn’t have mattered.

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